Scars: How to Help the Body Heal With Acupuncture

Scars are a beautiful example of the bodies extraordinary resiliency and ability to heal itself. Sometimes though, that healing response is so strong that it produces an excess of tissue and collagen that can build up and obstruct the natural flow of energy in meridians, fascia, skin and muscle. Scars are widely treated with acupuncture and may be linked to cases of persistent, chronic and untraceable conditions. 

Not all scars are pathological and there are a number of factors to consider when assessing a scar such as depth, size, color. Physical sensations such as numbness and tingling and physical obstruction such as range of motion. If upon pressing or palpation of scar there is any pain or tenderness this may indicate qi and blood stagnation or deficiency. If calcification is present this may indicate phlegm accumulation. These types of reactive scars will benefit most greatly from acupuncture treatment to move stagnant energy and restore balance. Additionally the restoration of proper qi and nutrient flow can help to break up adhesions and improve the cosmetic appearance of both hypertrophic and keloid scars by increasing elasticity, flatness and correcting dis-coloration.

Some types of scars I find especially important to check in my practice are: Abdominal and cesarean scars, post surgery and other deep scars that have penetrated multiple layers of fascia, scars on the head - especially if related to concussions, scars along joints - which may inhibit mobility, scars that clearly cross or intersect TCM meridians.

Needling

There are many ways to needle scars depending on the patients strength of constitution.  Be mindful that releasing built up energy and stored trauma can produce strong healing reactions that may be uncomfortable for patients. For example a scar treatment on the liver or gall bladder meridian may trigger a reaction as mild as a headache or as severe as a migraine. In general pattern differentiation is not discussed in texts simply because it doesn’t affect “point prescriptions”.

Classical texts note the technique of “surrounding the dragon” where many needles are inserted transversely toward the center of the scar every few millimetres until the scar is completely surrounded. This technique may be suitable for strong patients with excess scar conditions such as qi/blood stagnation or phlegm accumulation. Needling transversely under the scar is essential for breaking up adhesions and promoting circulation to the area.

Alternatively some suggest palpating the scar and choosing 2 or 3 of the most tender areas to insert thinly gauged needles transversely up to 0.5 cun in depth. This technique may be appropriate in deficient patients and scar conditions such as Qi and blood deficiency or until the patients response to treatment can be accurately assessed.

Additionally in both cases distal points may be added on corresponding affected meridians.

Moxabustion

Undoubtedly an invaluable tool in the treatment of scars. Not only does moxa improve nutrient and energy flow to the area but it burns at in infrared frequency that increases the bodies immune function and builds Qi and blood. Moxa can be applied directly, on needle head, indirectly with sticks, with a moxa box or a tiger warmer. Moxa is especially helpful taught to patients or family members for daily home care. In my practice I have found its most helpful to treat scars with Moxa before needling to avoid adverse reactions such as pain, sharpness and headaches that can happen with needling scars.

Other Methods of Healing:

Intradermals: Can be used in place of needles with proper patient education. Not advised with unhealed scars due to risk of infection.

Lineaments: Can be applied to speed up regeneration of epidermis and improve circulation. Some common over the counter formulas are:

Zheng gu shui – called steaming bone water for good reason. It is said to be “the deepest penetrating of all the Chinese liniments.” Helpful in moving blood stasis, the camphor also reduces swelling and pain. 

Vitamin E and aloe vera – especially useful in new and superficial scars. Reduces the appearance of scars, reduces swelling and inflammation and speeds recovery.

Ching wan hung – promotes tissue regeneration, antibacterial.

Wan hua oil -moves blood stasis due to acute trauma

DIY at home lineament – Add 1 tablespoon cayenne to 1 pint of apple cider vinegar simmered over the stove and then let cool, moves stagnation and promotes blood circulation for recovery and reduces inflammation and swelling.

Light guasha, tui na and cupping may also be effective in breaking up adhesions and moving stagnation. As always its important to assess relative condition of the scar to patients constitution to avoid over treating as these modalities tend to be more aggressive.

The treatment results may vary greatly from patient to patient depending on their health and severity/age of scar but one can usually gauge progress after about 3-12 treatments. Weather the scar is from injury, surgery or as old as childhood, moving long standing stagnation can bring radical changes and could be the key to unlocking chronic and idiopathic conditions.

Holistic Vaccine Support

I’m starting to see more folks coming in for vaccine support and it is great to see people thinking holistically about their recovery process. Vaccines can be a big deal for your immune and nervous system, especially with the levels of stress we’ve been exposed to this past year. Acupuncture, along with some pre & post home care can be helpful to support your body through the experience and may help to mitigate some common side effects.

First off as a disclaimer I will say that in BC acupuncturists and TCMPs are not considered primary care providers and as such it is out of our scope of practice to give any medical information or advice on vaccines, the advantages or risks involved or provide personal opinions.

Instead I am compiling some information on how to care for yourself before and after vaccination from a TCM view, should you chose to receive one.

The simplified way of explaining a vaccine is that it teaches your immune system how to fight a specific infection by creating the appropriate immune antibodies (fighter cells). While your body creates antibodies, it is possible to feel similar to if your body was fighting an active infection.

From a TCM view the vaccine by passes the “Wei qi” level (nose, mouth, mucosal membranes) and penetrates directly to interior levels of the body (intramuscular site of injection). This can show up as a “shao yang” pattern depending on your immune system response which causes symptoms like fever/chills, sweats, fatigue, muscle aches and soreness. To best prepare your body you can consider the following:

The week before your shot

• treat your body like you are already sick to nurture your immune system

• eat warm cooked foods, rest plenty, get adequate hydration

• lessen intensity of physical activity, especially with menses, to conserve your qi & energy

• acupressure and moxa Stomach qi line to support your immune system

Day of your shot:

• avoid getting the shot while you are having any immune system taxation such as: intense allergies, cold/flu, autoimmune flairs

• cover your wind gates (the back of your neck) especially if you waiting outside in line

• try some relaxation techniques if you are anxious

• book the rest of your day off if possible

  After your shot:

• take a day or two off to rest fully

• continue acting as if you are sick & fighting an infection - rest, warm cooked & easy to digest foods & hydration

• epsom salt baths can help with swollen lymph nodes, body aches and arm soreness

• immune points and/or shao yang acupressure points sj5/gb41 if side effects occur

• acupressure li 4 for headaches & pain (photo below)

• receive acupuncture if possible to help support your immune & nervous systems and to mitigate any side effects that may be present.

Supplements for support:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine formula - Jade Windscreen (Yu Ping Feng San) - can be purchased over the counter from any TCM doctor and most stores along lower Fisgard St. Can be taken 2 weeks leading up to and after your shot.

• Magnesium - for soreness and nervous system support. Taken internally as powder or transdermal through epsom salt baths.

• Turmeric/curcumin - helps with generalized inflammation, can be taken in meals & drinks, capsule form or my perosonal favourite in gummies.

4-4-6-2 Breathing Exercise

A parasympathetic twist on box breathing. This exercise helps to slow breathing & the long exhale engages the parasympathetic system - the rest & digest or feed & breed responses. This is helpful to do when feeling activated or anxious, before bed (sleeping or intimacy), or generally after a period of mask wearing.

Set a timer for 2-3 minutes on your phone
* Inhale through the nose for 4 seconds
* Hold for 4 seconds
* Exhale through the mouth for 6 seconds
* Hold for 2 seconds
Repeat for duration of timer

Winter The Season of Rest

In TCM winter is associated with the water element, kidneys and bladder organs, bones and teeth tissues, and fear and fright emotions. Winter is considered a time to rest and a time where the energy of the body descends deeply inside oneself to allow for quiet contemplation.

The traditional calendar follows 24 solar terms so the first day of winter was Nov 8th with solstice marking the half way point. The beginning of yang building within yin symbolized by the light retuning and longer days. The first day of spring is the first new moon of the lunar year which is celebrated as Chinese new year. This year it falls on Feb 12 - just over a month away.

With these last few weeks of winter it is important to rest deeply so that out energy can re-emerge with vitality in spring. This is important for health of our body, mind and spirit. We are ending a rat year and heading into an ox year. Rats are known for being resourceful at storing and gathering. The ox signals a year of hard work ahead. For me this is a reminder of the need to build our individual resources so that in the coming year we can do the “hard work” - processing all that had happened in the rat year (so much!) and moving forward towards the changes that we want and need in our lives, communities and the collective experience.

Nutritional Wisdom From Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional east Asian medicine, from which acupuncture was formed, comprises not only needle work but lifestyle, herbs and diet. As such it is important, when considering wholistic wellness, to take some nutritional precautions along with your prescribed acupuncture protocol. Below are the basic principals as a general guideline. If you wish to have a tailored nutritional protocol for your individual constitution, seek out the services of a qualified practitioner.

Thermal Natures of food: the classical TCM texts talk about the stomach as being a “100 degree soup”. Any food that we ingest needs to be warmed and preferably cooked as to not “cool down” the soup. Thus lowering body temperature, lowering metabolism and expending extra energy on digestive processes. Raw, iced and cool food - anything colder than room temperature - will injure the digestion and lead to imbalances such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, undigested food in stools, lassitude, fatigue and poor memory.

Many scientists link the ancient advancements of fire cooking food to the evolution of brain size and cognitive function. Even more interesting to note that studies are now showing that up to 50% of women on raw food diets develop amenorrhea - a sign that the body does not have enough energy to carry a pregnancy. Although there is a trend towards raw foods having higher nutrient density, cooking foods actually increases the bioavailability (what our body can break down to absorb) of those nutrients.

That is not to say never eat raw food, but in general it is good to eat in moderation and according to the season.

Energetics of food: Much like thermal natures of food, energetics of food is important for maintaining the “100 degree soup” needed for proper digestion. In general fruits and veggies are cooler in nature, grains and legumes are neutral, meats and spices are warming. Dairy, sugar, fried/greasy foods, wheat, and alcohol are all considered damp in nature. Of course there are many exceptions but this is the simplified way of looking at it. Cooking foods can change the energetic nature. For example steaming veggies will be considered more easily digestible than eating a salad. It is for this reason that vegans and vegetarians need to pay extra attention to their digestive energetics by adding warming spices and cooking foods thoroughly.

Seasonal eating: In this way of wholistic eating it is also important to consider the seasons and natural environment in which you live. External influences can also influence the “100 degree soup”. Living in colder, damp climates like we do on the west coast means we need to take extra precautions in the winter to eat warming foods and avoid damp ones. While during the summer heat it is suitable to eat fresh fruits and salads to balance the bodies warmer energies. As we consider our bodies are in constant relationship with the natural world, in general, whatever is growing fresh seasonally in your area are good choices for the body.

Individual constitution: Most importantly is to eat according to your individual constitution. This is where seeing a qualified practitioner can be very useful for customizing therapeutic food protocols. In general though, it is quite intuitive. If you are cold all the time, fatigued, lack energy/appetite, have weak digestion, gas, bloating and loose stools - it is best to eat warming foods, cooked thoroughly and moderately spiced. If you are hot or warm most of the time, anger easily, prone to headaches and neck tension, constipation, heartburn, insomnia and anxiety - its best to limit consumption of meats, spices, coffee, alcohol and greasy foods. If you are sluggish, foggy headed, prone to excess weight gain, have feelings of chest distention, experience acne, cysts, PCOS, you should avoid wheat, dairy, sugar, processed and greasy foods, alcohol and fatty meats.

Extra food for thought:

-Cultural eating practices are important! What your ancestors evolved eating will have an affect on your constitution and ability to assimilate nutrients.

-If prone to weak digestion, adding spices to your meals or drinking spiced teas after meals can help the break down and assimilation of nutrients and prevent bloating, gas, indigestion and loose stools.

-Adding quality ferments like water kefir, kraut, kimchi, Kombucha, and miso can help rebuild probiotics in the gut and intestines to aid in digestion.

-If digestion Is a chronic ailment I always recommend seeing a naturopath or family doctor for further testing of intestinal overgrowth (SIBO, candida), parasites, food allergies or thyroid/autoimmune conditions in addition to your acupuncture protocols.

Autumn Wellness

In Acupuncture theory, fall all is the season that effects the lungs and large intestine organs. Somatically the lungs relate to general lung health, immunity, skin, and the emotions of grief and sadness. The large intestine relates to the bodies detox pathways, digestion and excretion. This time of year is common to see a flare in colds & flus, dry skin and hair, eczema and skin complaints, asthma, seasonal depression/ SAD, and constipation. As the nights get longer and the energy of the natural world moves inwards, we welcome more rest and a return to routine and self care. Nutritionally, it's a good time to start adding more warming spices, root vegetables, and cooked meals such as soups and stews to attune your body to the season and nourish you through the darker months.

Acupuncture for Anxiety and Insomnia

Summer is the season on the heart organ in acupuncture theory and imbalances related to the heart such as anxiety and insomnia can often flair up this time of year. Acupuncture is great medicine for this as it works fundamentally on the nervous system. As needles gently activate certain acupuncture points, the body is guided from the sympathetic nervous response of fight or flight (which most of us step into daily) to a parasympathetic state of rest and digest. Once the body feels safe enough to relax, we can come back into embodiment, our minds become calm and our natural healing processes can take over. Further, studies have shown that acupuncture floods the body with oxytocin - the feel good brain chemical that we get from intimacy and connection. Increased levels of oxytocin provides an immediate feeling of relaxation and ease before you’ve even left the treatment room and carries into the evening for a peaceful nights rest.

Study Shows Acupuncture More Effective for Migraines Than Pharmaceuticals

A study published last year shows evidence that acupuncture is more effective at treating chronic migraines with fewer side effects than both pharmaceutical drugs and botox. Participants who received 30 treatments over a 3 month period reported an overall decrease of severity of pain, frequency of migraines and need for medication compared to control groups.

With all the talk of new pharmaceuticals for migraine prevention being approved by the FDA this week, perhaps here in Victoria we could take a more holistic approach. The article also highlights the importance of acupuncture frequency to achieve optimal results. While getting regular acupuncture may take a bit more effort than taking a pill, the study also shows that the acupuncture group had far fewer adverse effects to treatment.

For the full article click here.